lundell



Jan. 24, 1956 K A LUNDELL 2,732,234

LATCH STRUCTURE Filed April 15, 1953 I flo /27 f ze @FM/K9 ATTORNEY United States Patent `O 2,132,234 LATCH STRUCTURE Application .April 15 1953, Serial No. 348,960 4 Claims. (Cl. 292-41) This invention relates to latches adapted to secure a cover in closed position on a receptacle and ,is directed more particularly to latches for -use in .the-.drawing .to` gether and securing `ofthe .cover on a receptacle of the class of caskets.

Prior to thepresent invention, it has been the prac- .tice .to provide latches r fasteners ythat were inconspcuous .and thus did not .detract from the plain, simple, or dignified appearance of a casket or like receptacle. 4It was 4considered that the means for securing the cover on a receptacle of this class should be practically nonexistent insofar as the general appearance of lthe `receptacle was concerned. Various latches or ,fasteners have heretofore been extensively utilized, .but the necessity for providing such .minute or concealed latches or fasteners has come .to be objectionable from the standpoint of convenient `operability and security. It is now considered suitable that latches or fasteners 'for this general type of receptacle should not only adequately serve a utilitarian purpose .but should blend with or contribute to .the overall appearance of .the receptacle. Additionally, latches provided for this purpose must not only he capable of securing .'thecover in fully Closed position on the receptacle, ibut .must be easily and readily operable by 'the uninstructed as well.

To the end of overcoming the above noted ,problems of the structure in contemplation, the `present inventionV has been developed. .Herein it 4is contemplated toprovide ,a

receptacle latch 'that is of ornamental apeparance. This latch, from a practical standpoint, is self-centering, 'includes an ,expanding lock las between receptacle and cover, and during operation urges the cover into abutjting Irelationship `with `the receptacle. These and many other improvements and advantages .in `this type of latch 4will be more fully apparent from a .consideration of the ufollowing specification, taken in 'conjunction with the accompanying drawing; 'in `which- Fig. l "is a A-fragmentary vertical 4cross ,sectional 'View of'a `receptacle and 'cover in closed relationship this structure -being equipped 'with a Vlatch embodying 4one form of the invention; k

vFig. '2 is -a plan -View of fthe structure shown in Fig.

1, being taken substantially as indicated by the line A.2f-,2 of that ligure;

fFig. 3 is a horizontal cross sectional view, taken substantially on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view similar to Fig. v1 and shows" 4'the 'cover removed from the re ceptacle and :the latch embodying Ethe invention in in- .operative position; and

Fig. 5 `is-an enlarged fragmentary Averticalsectional view showing in detail the operative parts of `the latch when they 'are in position to secure the cover in'closed position on the receptacle.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the reference numeral is employed to generally designate a portion of the receptacle in which one form of the invention is embodied. The front edge of the receptacle Patented Jan.. 24, 1956 ice .2 is defined .by an inturned flange 11 in which a sen'es of suitably sized circular openings 12 are made. Secured to the under face of the flange 11 are plates 13 which not only reinforce the ,rims of the openings 12 but actually provide annular ledges 14 as well. ,Each ledge occurs by reason ofthe opening of the plate 13 being of lesser diameter. than that of the opening 12. A tubular latchkeeperl is adapted to be mounted in the ange 11 of the receptacle. This keeper is formed with an upper, annular rim 17 that rests on the annularshoulder 14,

and the upperface thereof is llush with the top surface ofthe llange'll. A central opening 18 is formed in the upper portion of .the keeper. This opening convtinues throughout the depth of the keeper in the form of an annularly flared opening 19. At the place of connection of the opening 19 with the smaller opening 18 an annular ledge or shoulder 21 occurs.

A cover 22 for the .receptacle 10 is shown to be somewhat arched in cross section and includes a rim flange 23 which corresponds to the llange 11 of the receptacle. A series of openings `24 are made in the ilange 23. These openings are reinforced by angle plates 26, the horizontal flange `27 of each of which is formed with an aperture defined by an npstanding rim 28. One side of the rim is flat,'as at 29 (see Fig. 3).

Attached, in any suitable manner, to the curved portion of the cover l22 is a bracket 31. This bracket has an opening 32 that coincides with an opening 33 in the cover. The bracket includes a partially vreturn-bent ang'e34 that ,is ared, v as` suggested in Fig. 2 of the drawing, to provide a suitable finger grip 3S. Centrally of the flange 34 is a depressed or llattened area 36 through which an opening 37 is made.

A lat'ching or-'fastening member, embodying the invention, comprises a 'knob '38, the flat base of which -restson lthe area 36 -o'f the bracket'31. 'Depending from y,the center .of the base `of the knob is a shaft 39. Approximately the lower half :of this `shaft is formed with threads .41', 'substantially -as sshown. The shaft, Vof course, -is fof `such length as to `project .through .and beyond the openings .32 and .33. A sleeve `412 is provided with a -full length, centered, :threaded opening 43. Through a `part of its length, lthis sleeve has an louter, flat surface, as indicated :at 44,' :and fthe sleeve `is :designed to project through the V'opening formed bythe 28, the surface rtl4 thereof fengagingthe 'flat .surface 29 .of 'this rim. lt will be yunderstood that this .structure `,permits the-sleeve gto move back--and-.forth through the opening formed like' portion 46 which `is of .greater diameter than the external diameterof the sleeve. Thus a shoulder -47 .is created and, in .the present instance, `the shoulder is .formed to provide-a plain, angular, beveled surface. This shoulder may .be considered as Eproviding an :annular wedge at the point of .connection between the sleeve proper and the lower end 46. The threaded portion d1 of ithe shaft 39 `.is intended to engage the threads of -the sleeve 42.

A .collar 48 encircles .the sleeve 42. The lower end of `this collarpis tapered, as .at `49 to providean annular, wedge-,like edge. .Between 4the lower edge of the .collar A8 and the portion 46 a split :spring expander-ring 5,1 encircles the sleeve. Whenl'the parts of the .structure .are in inoperative position (see Fig. v4), the .ring 51 :closely .encircles the sleeve 42 and rests upon the inner, .annular edge ofthe .shoulder 47. The collar 48 in turn the sleeve having the at surface 44 is projected upwardly through the aperture formed by the rim 28, the surface 44, of course, necessarily being aligned with the surface 29 of said rim. Following mounting the sleeve in this manner, the shaft 39 is projected downwardly through the openings 37, 32, and 33, the lower end thereof being threaded into the sleeve 42. The knob 38, under all circumstances, derives its bearing on the flattened, depressed area 36 and, with the parts in inoperative position, they appear substantially as shown in Fig. 4. The tubular keeper 16 has already been permanently secured to the receptacle and in a position to be substantially on center with the end 46 of the sleeve 42. When the cover 22 is moved toward closed position, the end 46 will project into the upper, smaller opening 18 of the keeper. Should there be any slight inaccuracy in location of the keeper or the sleeve 42, adjustment may take place by reason of the fact that the shaft 39,

being loose within the cover 22 and the bracket, may

swing sufficiently for this purpose.

When the cover is moved substantially into closed position, the sleeve end 46 lies within the ilared opening 19 of the keeper. The knob 38 may now be rotated and such rotation feeds the sleeve upwardly of the shaft 39, inasmuch as it cannot rotate with said shaft. As rotation of the knob continues, the end 46 moves upwardly, crowding the upper end of the collar against the ange 27, and with further upward movement of the portion 46, the split ring 51 is caused to expand by reason of the wedge-like end 49 of the collar. The expansion of the ring 51 brings it into contact with the inclined walls of the opening 19. As rotation of the knob 38 is continued, the ring 51 positively abuts the annular shoulder or ledge 2 1 and, from this point on, any further rotation of the knob will draw the cover into fully closed relationship with the receptacle.

It is to be particularly noted that when it is desired to disengage the latch, the knob 38 must be rotated sufl'iciently in the opposite direction to allow ample space for the split ring 51 to again assume its original position, thereby moving the vcollar 48 upwardly of the sleeve 42. In other words, this latch structure, in order to adequately serve its intended purpose, must be operated to a considerable extent for the purpose of either securing the cover in place on the receptacle or releasing such securement to allow the cover to be moved into an opened position. It is evident from the foregoing that the latch embodying this invention is self-centering, includes a minimum number of relatively simple parts and, with the cover in closed position, all the operating parts are concealed, with the exception, of course, of the linger grip flange 34 and the knob 38.

Although applicant has shown and described only one form of the invention, it will be apparent that modificav tions of the structural details thereof may be made to adapt the invention to the securing of a cover on a receptacle other than that shown in the drawing, and it is contemplated that such modifications are within the spirit and scope of the linvention insofar as they are set out in the annexed claims.

Having thus set forth my invention, what I claim as new and for which I desire protection by Letters Patent is:

l. A latch structure for securing a pair of relatively separable members in close proximity comprising a keeper mounted in one of said members,l an annular shoulder formed in the walls of an aperture extending through said keeper, a sleeve mounted in the other of said members, cooperating parts ofsaid sleeve and the other member preventing rotation and allowing axial movement of said sleeve with respect to the other member, a rotatable shaft having threaded engagement with said sleeve, an expandable ring encircling said sleeve adjacent one end thereof, means carried by said sleeve operable to effect expansion of said ring into engagement with the walls and shoulder of the aperture of said keeper, when said shaft has been rotated and axially moved said sleeve a predetermined extent.

2. A latch structure for securing a pair of relatively separable members in close proximity comprising a keeper mounted in one of said members, said keeper having an opening extending therethrough, an annular shoulder dividing a straight wall portion of said opening from an inclined wall portion thereof, a sleeve mounted in the other of said members, cooperating parts of said sleeve and the other member preventing rotation and allowing axial movement of said sleeve with respect to the other member, a rotatable shaft having threaded engagement with said sleeve, an expandable ring encircling said sleeve adjacent an end thereof adapted to project through the straight wall portion of the keeper opening, means carried by said sleeve operable to expand said ring into engagement with the inclined wall portion of the keeper opening when said shaft has been rotated and axially moved said sleeve to a predetermined etxent.

3. A latch structure for'securing a pair of relatively separable members in close proximity comprising a keeper mounted in one of said members, said keeper having an opening extending therethrough, an annular shoulder dividing a straight wall portion of said opening from an inclined wall portion thereof, a sleeve mounted in the other of said members, cooperating parts of said sleeve and the other member preventing rotation and allowing axial movement of said sleeve with respect to the other member, a rotatable shaft having threaded engagement with said sleeve, an enlarged end on said sleeve, said end being adapted to project through the straight wall portion of the keeper opening into the inclined wall portion thereof, an expandable ring encircling said sleeve directly adjacent said end, a collar mounted for axial movement on said sleeve, said collar being movabe to engage and expand said ring into frictional engagement with the inclined wall portion of the keeper opening when said shaft has been rotated to axially move said sleeve.

4. A latch structure for securing a cover in closed position on a receptacle comprising a keeper mounted in the rim of said receptacle, said keeper having an opening therethrough, an annular shoulder dividing an upper straight wall portion of said opening from a larger inclined wall portion thereof, a sleeve mounted in the rim of said cover and being closely capable of axial movement with respect thereto, a rotatable shaft having threaded engagement with said sleeve, an enlarged portion formed atl the depending end of said sleeve, said portion being capable of projecting through the upper and into the lower portion of the keeper opening when said cover is moved into closed position on said receptacle, an expandable ring encircling said sleeve adjacent said enlarged portion, a collar on said sleeve directly above said ring, and means on said collar and said enlarged portion cooperating to expand said ring to engage the inclined wall portion of said keeper opening when said shaft is rotated and s aid sleeve has been axially moved to a predetermined extent.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 696,422 Duffy Apr. 1, 1902 715,731 Chope Dec. 9, 1902 1,753,183 Johnson Apr. 1, 1930 

